Greek outfit Wastefall has checked in with this message about parting ways with the band's guitarist:

"We would like to announce that guitarist and co-founder of Wastefall Alexander Katsigiannis has left the band due to his hectic academic schedule, that couldn't follow up with the band's demands.

"We welcome the talented John Aktypis (Astral DNA, ex- Decemberance, ex- Ritual of the Black Sun) behind the guitars and we are ready to hit the stage and start the recordings for our 4th full album! Stay Tuned for our news and thanks again for your support so far!"

Alexander also comments on departing the band: "I would like to wish my brothers luck and lots of love. I am sure Wastefall will kick ass with their new material. Thank you for sharing my vision with yours and for the great moments we experienced together all those years. Peace."

The “Meridiem” EP by Greek metal pioneers Wastefall is going to be released on the 12th of April 2013. The EP will be available via Itunes, Amazon MP3, and various other digital outlets, as well as at the official Wastefall website to be launched soon. Limited physical copies will be available sometime after the digital release. The track listing is:

1. Recycle the Elite2. Hearts in the Gutter3. Vulturnus4. The Poetics of Flight5. Revolution Jar

Wastefall will also be shooting a video for the song “Hearts in the Gutter” on the 23rd and 24th of March with the LensOrama visual team. The video will be available online April 12th. Wastefall will hit the road for the "To The South" Greek tour in April, with the first announced dates:

Wastefall has checked in with the following announcement about lineup changes within the band:

"It is always bad news when a member of a family departs but in the current circumstances it’s for the sake of music. Christos Kyrkilis (keyboards) left the band in friendly terms. Therefore, the band decided to go on as a quartet.

"Since Domenik is more than efficient, he is going to take charge the keyboards concerning the studio recordings. It’s better for the chemistry of the band to remain as a quartet. We wish Christos all it’s best to his future endeavours.

"Since Kostis Papalexopoulos is still in exile in London UK, the band had to come up with a new member behind the drum kit. We are more than happy & proud to present you Konstantinos Galimis (Agnosia, ex-Ravencult).

"As we previously informed you, concerning the upcoming photo shooting, we can now present you the current line up photos. Feel free to check them out here."

Konstantinos also commented on his recruitment: “I am very happy and proud to be part of this new era for the band! I can't wait to perform on some amazing tunes behind Wastefall's drum-kit!” More...

Greece's Wastefall has announced its official comeback to the metal scene with a new song and lyric video. Check out "Recycle The Elite" in the player available below.

Plans are also underway regarding a new album, live dates, and more activity. The band has been working on new material for sometime now, and is currently in talks for a new record deal and touring dates.

The band is also asking fans to be the ultimate critics and help decided which songs will go in the new album. Guitarist / lead vocalist Domenik Papaemmanouil states, "There is nothing like being part of a band's decision-making process. Each and every one of us would love to be in the studio with our favorite bands talking about which songs should be in the album and why. Don't forget we are also fans of this genre!"

Alex Katsigiannis, co-founder / guitarist, added: "After years of being in hiatus, we now want to re-engage with our fans, or potential ones. We want to make them be part of the album process and part of the Wastefall-family. We have many surprises up our sleeves that can't be named right now. What I can tell you is that Wastefall is here to stay!"

Wastefall entered the studio in order to record a new EP titled “Meridiem” that will be digitally released in the spring of 2013. A video clip will also be shot by the LensOrama team for one of the new songs. Stay tuned to the band's Facebook profile for more details. More...

Along with Lande, Swedish progressive/power metal band Evergrey will headline the two-day festival, performing a worldwide exclusive set featuring the Evergrey choir and the Poulenc String Quartet from Atlanta.

Lande and Evergrey will be joined by German power metal band Savage Circus, Dutch symphonic metal band Epica, Pyramaze, Wastefall, Sweden’s Freak Kitchen, Finland’s Thunderstone, Italy’s Vision Divine, and Denmark’s Mercenary, who is returning to ProgPower due to overwhelming popularity at ProgPower IV.

ProgPower USA VII will take place on Friday and Saturday, September 15 and 16 at Earthlink Live in Atlanta. A very limited number of tickets are available via progpowerusa.com.

Jorn Lande has been tapped to replace Nevermore as the Saturday night headliner at ProgPower USA VII. The singer, whose credits include Masterplan and ARK, will close the show with a unique set covering not only his solo career but songs from the various bands and projects over the course of his entire career.

"I hated to lose Nevermore, but I am ecstatic over being able to get one of the best voices in metal today," said Promoter Glenn Harveston. "After speaking with Jorn, I am convinced that this will be a once in a lifetime set that you won't see anywhere else in the world."

Added Lande: "It's an honor to play ProgPower USA this year. The festival is well known around the world for keeping progressive metal and hard rock alive. We will do our best to give you a few surprises and make it one of the most memorable sets in the history of the festival."

Nevermore was forced to pull out of ProgPower USA when the Disturbed/Nevermore European was postponed until September, conflicting with the festival date.

Evergrey - complete with a choir and string quartet - will headline the first night of the two-day festival, which will take place on Friday and Saturday, September 15 and 16 at Earthlink Live in Atlanta.

The rest of the lineup is German power metal band Savage Circus, Dutch symphonic metal band Epica, Pyramaze, Wastefall, Sweden's Freak Kitchen, Finland's Thunderstone, Italy's Vision Divine, and Denmark's Mercenary.

The festival's annual pre-party will take place on Thursday, September 14 at The Vinyl Club inside of Earthlink Live and will feature performances by Theocracy, Circus Maximus, Leatherwolf, and Circle II Circle.

Tickets for ProgPower USA VII will go on sale Saturday, April 1 at 10 a.m. EST via all Ticketmaster outlets. Only 900 tickets will be made available to the public. Advance Gold Badges, which presently have a two-year wait list, are sold out. ProgPower USA has sold out more than four months in advance for the past four years. Last year's festival sold out in a record four days.

Tickets are for the pre-party are $20 and go on sale April 8 at 10 a.m. EST. There will only be 600 tickets available in advance.

Danish/American metallers PYRAMAZE (featuring ex-BALANCE OF POWER singer Lance King) and Greece's WASTEFALL are the first two bands confirmed for the ProgPower USA VII festival, set to take place in September at Earthlink Live In Atlanta, Georgia. PYRAMAZE will open the two-day festival on a Friday, while WASTEFALL will kick things off the next day. Tickets go on sale April 1 at 10:00 a.m. EST via all Ticketmaster outlets. Only 900 regular tickets will be made available to the public (advanced gold badge tickets are sold out). Cost is $104 for a two-day pass. No individual-day tickets will be sold. When deciding on your date of purchase, please keep in mind that tickets for the past three shows sold out over four months in advance of the show date.